Breaking with tradition somewhat, this year the Mogs would only have one chance to meet their oldest foe & hopefully walk away (staggering) triumphant! The Mogs arrived very promptly as is the way when a hair of the dog is a necessity for 90% of the team. Alex won the toss and sent us into the field; Pilau opened up with four lightening quick balls which included a rather exciting bouncer before you guessed it ...rain! We were only halted for 1 pint before we trotted back on again and Pilau continued to bowl an excellent spell, finishing with 2 scalps. Joseph from the other end couldn't repeat his spell from the week before & was replaced by Keith who found his line straight off & trapped their batsmen with the offbreak. PLUM! After 10 over's headley were 51-2(30yd boundary helped);Alex came on in the 17th over and unfortunately he received little help from the pitch, but was by the stumps when Action sprinted Carl Lewis like, slid like Fred Astaire and fired in like Jonty Rhodes to remove their no4 bat, nice work Action! Jimmy took the ball from Keith (1-30) for the 20th over & the skippers change produced the goods with a wicket in his first over leaving Headley 91-5. Headley ticked along to 133-5 before another break through by Jim. Matt had a go from Alex's end & was fortunate to bowl at a couple first time cricketers(cheers skip) and next thing you know Headleys innings closes on 152 all out, Jimmy finishing with figures of 4-27.
Tea was taken as is the norm & off we went wih Furner & Jackson and hopes were high for a quick start, but when Peter called yes & then hesitated, disaster struck and our little master was on the way to the showers for some self-flagellation for running himself out again.
Stuart was joined by our resident history teacher big Al Halliday & the boys settled in for the next 6 over's and looked cozy until their 40 run partnership was ended with Stuart popping the ball into a grateful fielders hand. Andy joined Al and preceded to smack the ball to the boundary, Al fell to the sweep for the second Sunday running(give it up) for a good 29 from 30balls (72-3).
Skipper who was very determined not to lose and ran into bat and battered the first two balls the boundary & third straight onto the nugget of their mid off fielder who I'm pleased to tell you didn't require stitches(by some miracle). Andy reached 26 before playing on, which gave Jimmy a chance to eye up the short boundary & he and the skipper smacked 50 off the next 8 over's. Jimmy (30 off 24) unfortunately returned a catch to their rather excitable bowler, probably because he had been splattered to the boundary for 28 runs in the preceding 8 balls! Matt joined the skipper to see the game home off 27.1 over's with Skipper carrying his bat for a good 31. Beer was taken in large quantities then we all went home at a reasonable hour. Cheers bring on Ditchling.
Report by Matthew Lewis
MWCC Stats